‘Good Boy’ Movie Review: An Original Canine Spin On Haunted House Tale
Photo from Independent Film Company
From Jeremy Kibler
Dogs are said to be able to detect things not seen with the human eye. Until Good Boy, it’s a shock, then, that nobody has ever made a horror movie told from the dog’s eye view. Rest assured, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever lives to see the end of this simple but ambitious haunted house tale. Reminiscent of this year’s Presence—Steven Soderbergh’s immersive, slow-burn novelty in which the roving camera was from the point-of-view of a ghost—the film demands our attention as an original concept solidly executed.
Director Ben Leonberg makes a modestly effective directorial debut, casting his own dog Indy as the protagonist and the star. Indy, clearly playing a version of himself, plays Indy, who’s very loyal to his master, Todd (Shane Jensen). Health-wise, Todd is not doing well. Retreating from the city apartment of his concerned sister Vera (Arielle Friedman), Todd has Indy by his side and ends up secluding himself in the old country home of Grandpa (indie horror mainstay Larry Fessenden). Naturally, Indy is the first to sense a presence.
Purely as a scrappy filmmaking feat that exists in the world, Good Boy is impressive. It couldn’t possibly sustain a longer running time than 73 minutes, but there’s enough of an emotional pull to transcend being a gimmick. Co-written with Alex Cannon, Leonberg achieves quite a bit with a minimalist approach. There’s not much plot to speak of, but there is a defined arc for Indy.
Making his acting debut, Indy is extraordinary, the four-legged actor deserving of several treats and some special Oscar category. He’s expressive with soulful eyes and, although a performance is found in the edit, bravely doing all of his own stunts. Through Leonberg’s low angles and fluid camerawork (he also serves as cinematographer), the viewer feels like they’re on all fours with Indy. Like the adults in a Peanuts cartoon, the humans (including Todd) are heard but not fully seen, except for Grandpa in old VHS tapes; it’s a smart choice that feels fully in tune with how dogs interact with their trusted companions versus someone less familiar.
Full of moody atmosphere and shadow imagery, the film relies on a quiet, creeping sense of dread (early on, chills are elicited with something as simple as Indy watching a dark figure standing behind Todd’s car at night in the rain). Even with the comforting knowledge that the dog doesn’t die, there’s still enough terror and danger to spook our canine hero.
The deeply loving but increasingly volatile bond between man and man’s best friend rings true on screen. Despite some hokey effects in the climax, it is admirable that the film doesn’t flinch away from its inevitably heartbreaking resolution. For a low-budget experiment, Good Boy manages to be both unsettling and ultimately moving. As long as your own dog doesn’t bark or whimper at the TV (like mine did), here is a horror movie you can share with your fur babies.
Rating: 3/5
Good Boy is currently in theaters.
